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Allan Aanerud

Allan Aanerud, 70, of Waubun, died Sunday, January 18, 2009 at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo.

Allan was born to Victor and Millie Aanerud on March 5, 1938, in section nine of Oakland Township, in a one room log house. He was brought into this world by a traveling physician, Doctor Edder. Allan had two brothers and a sister. While growing up, he saw a lot of his grandparents, Ruby and George Miller, as they only lived a quarter of a mile away. While he was growing up, the family did a lot of family activities.

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During the summers, Allan worked on his father's small farm and in the winters he attended Espy School, a one room school house located in Oakland Township, 2.5 miles from home, where he finished eighth grade. He then went to Waubun High School and graduated in 1957.

Allan worked at local jobs until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1958. Following two years in the service, he was honorably discharged and went to work in the Twin Cites, taking different jobs. In 1961, Allan went to work for Penzine Dredging. When the river froze over, he went home to the farm.

That winter he met Geraldine Folz through a mutual friend, Kathy (Borgrud) Schmidt. Allan and Geri dated that winter and were married on June 16, 1962. They moved to the Twin Cities, where Allan went back to work at Penzine Dredging, until the fall of 1962. The winter of 1962, they lived with Allan's parents. He purchased the land for a home in the spring of 1963, and purchased a house from Hans Fagre for $75, plus $35 to move it. They dragged it on pole logs to the new location. Later Allan and Geri replaced that home with a newer one, where they raised four kids: Clay, Patty Jo, Brent and Rod.

In the spring of 1964, Allan started work in the elevator trade. He was in the elevator trade until work slowed, and then he went to trade school in Wadena, for two years. Allan then worked as the self-employed owner of Oakland Electric. During a downturn in the economy in the early 1980s, he went back to work in the elevator trade, with Montgomery Elevator. Allan worked in the elevator trade for many years, until an injury in 1994 required an early retirement.

After retiring, Allan enjoyed hunting, fishing and time with family and friends. He also became active in the Lake Grove Lutheran Church, where he helped form the Lake Grove Cemetery Board with the help of Babe Schmidt. He was also Lake Grove Lutheran Church Council president until his death.

Surviving Allan are his wife of 47 years, Geri Aanerud of Waubun; their four children, son Clay (Jeanette) Aanerud of Otsego, Minn.; daughter Patty Jo Aanerud of Bemidji; son Brent (Natalie) Aanerud of Boulder, Colo., son Rod (Shelly) Aanerud of Princeton, Minn.; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Gordon Aanerud of Carleton, Minn., and Ronnie (Betty) Aanerud of Waubun; sister Barb (Mick) McCard of Cheyenne, Wyo.; as well as many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and cousins; and special family Nate Prellwitz, Nate Staffenhagen and Nick Worden.

Preceding him in death were his parents, paternal grandparents and nephew, Tim Aanerud.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.